Carter slouched in her chair, watching as Mr. Philips paced back and forth in front of the white board.

"Some would say he was foolish for taking the career choice he did," her history teacher said. "But I believe, if you asked him if he could redo it, would he choose differently, he would say that he would have done the same thing."

Mr. Philips stopped pacing and looked at the class, his arms crossed.

"So speaking of careers, let this be a lesson to you as career day approaches. The work you choose will become your life, for good or bad. Remember that when you decide what field you will go into."

The bell rang.

"Chapters 23 and 24 tonight. Don't forget the essay due this Friday," he said.

The room burst into motion as students stowed their notebooks away and left. Carter shouldered her bag and followed the flow of traffic exiting the classroom. She paused outside, leaning against the wall. A second later, Link and Donovan stepped out. She fell into step beside them. Link glanced at her, smiling.

"You know," he said, "if you keep hanging out with us people will assume we are friends."

"You should feel so lucky," she said.

"Lucky, or afraid how people will see me?"

"You're the smart one here, you tell me?" she said.

They pushed their way past clusters of dawdling students. They turned the corner and headed for the cafeteria. They were almost to their destination when an alarm cut through the noise of the hallway. Everyone froze at the blaring sound. Half a second later the windows were sealed as large metal shutters where dropped over them. Panicked voices started rumbling down the hallways, as students frantically looked to each other.

Carter glanced around and was surprised to see neither Link or Donovan were beside her. As students started rushing off in different directions, Carter looked around. A door to her right was swinging shut. She moved to it as Principal Withers's voice broke into the chaos.

"Students. Please return to you homerooms in an orderly fashion," he said.

Students took his words to heart and moved with quickened steps to their classrooms. Carter pushed the door open and looked around. The room was dim due to the shutters that were now sealed in place. Empty tables filled the space. She stepped in and looked about. In the back corner, Link and Donovan were crouched behind a desk. Holding back an amused smile, she walked over to them.

"I never pegged either of you as the skittish type," she said. She shrugged. "Okay, I might have expected it from Link but Donovan, I thought you would be made of stronger stuff."

Link blushed, but Donovan's face, as usual, revealed nothing. Carter pointed behind her.

"Are we going to go back to homeroom or shall I join you down there on the floor?" She smirked. "Who knows it might improve my reputation to be found on the floor with the school's hot new guy."

Donovan's cool cracked slightly and Carter laughed, the sound more girlish than either guy expected.

"I'm not even sure that could pull your reputation from the gutter," he said.

Carter shrugged.

"Probably not. Come on. They have to make sure everyone is accounted for. That means heading back to homeroom."

Link stood, his face slightly pale. Donovan rose and brushed off his immaculate uniform.

"Does this often happen?" Link asked, as they headed out of the classroom.

"No, but it wouldn't surprise me if this was a test. You know check reaction speed. How fast does the military show up."

"What?" Link asked, adjusting his rumpled uniform and glasses.

"You do realize the President's son goes here, right? The second the alarm goes off an alert is sent to the military and they send out a response team."

"Right," Link said, nodding.

The hallways were mostly empty as they made their way back. The alarm still rang down corridors, urging even the most stubborn of people back to their classrooms. Carter glanced at her phone.

"It's a good reaction time," she said. "Even with all the new students."

They stepped into their classroom and found seats together. The air buzzed with excited talk about what had sent off the alarm. Link gazed around the room, a slight frown marring his features.

"He's not here," Carter said.

"Who?" Link asked, the frown shifting to confusion.

"Mason," she said.

"How do you know that?" Donovan asked.

She pointed to herself.

"Secret service daughter," she said. "I know the second that alarm went off Smith grabbed Mason and took him to..." She passed and smiled. "Let's just say he took him to a safe location."

"You're not going to tell us where that is?" Link asked.

"Technically, I'm not even suppose to know. So...no, I'm not going to tell you. Just know that, unfortunately, he's safe."

Link smiled and Carter returned the look.

*****************

The noise in the cafeteria was double the volume it usually was due to the temporary lock down. After waiting in their homerooms for an hour, Principal Withers had made the announcement that it had been a false alarm and released everyone to lunch.

Carter, Link and Donovan entered the chaotic scene, already annoyed with the frantic tones of their peers and the dramatic stories that were already circulating. Instead of having either guy be forced to face the battle of the lunch line, Carter offered them part of her sandwich and chips. Link paused in the middle of eating as Maddy walked by. She looked at him and smiled. He sat there frozen, with a chip halfway to his mouth as he watched her pass.

"She thinks you're cute. You should go eat with her," Carter said.

Link blinked and seemed to remember where he was. He looked at Carter, with a dazed expression.

"What did you say?" he asked.

Carter pointed to where Maddy had taken a seat among her friends.

"Go eat with her," Carter said.

Link fidgeted uncomfortably and stared down at the table, then briefly glanced over at Maddy.

"No," he said. "I'm fine."

"Don't be stupid," Carter said. "Go sit with her. You like her, don't you?"

Link gave a shrug that couldn't have convinced a two year old.

"You helped her with her math homework and you talked to her at the museum, I say you have your in. Go take it before the guy a table over takes it."

Link jerked his head up and looked for the guy in reference.

"Which one?" he asked.

Carter leaned against the table and shrugged carelessly.

"Why should I tell you?" she said. "It's not like it matters to you since you aren't going over there."

Carter looked over and met Donovan's gaze. Beyond his blank expression she caught the spark of amusement in his dark blue eyes.

"Just tell me who it is?" Link said.

Carter looked at Link for a long moment and then looked away.

"Nope," she said, "if you're not going to do anything about Maddy, then he should at least get a chance. Who knows, it might be fun to watch him flirt with her. You know, hear how she laughs at his stupid jokes."

Link's expression hardened as Carter talked and she could see his resolve strengthening. He stood abruptly, but didn't move. He stood there, frozen with indecision.

"You might find simply saying hello will go a long way," she said.

Link nodded and stumbled over the bench. He hastily righted himself and moved over to Maddy's table. Carter and Donovan watched as Link tapped Maddy's shoulder. She turned and smiled up at him. Link's shoulder's relaxed and a pleased grinned spread across his face. A second later, Maddy shifted over and Link took the spot beside her.

"Not a single guy at the table next to Maddy's even looked over once when she sat down," Donovan said.

"I know that and you know that, but Link doesn't need to know that," Carter said.

"Why then?"

She leaned against the table, not taking her eyes off of Link and his progress with Maddy.

"I knew he would find it more painful to watch someone flirt with Maddy then having to go over and talk to her."

Maddy's laugh burst from the group and Link's smile widened.

"Why help him at all?" Donovan asked.

Carter looked over at him and gave him a patronizing smile.

"You mean because I'm such a cold hearted person I couldn't possibly want to help someone else find happiness?"

Donovan remained silent. Carter looked away from him.

"I know I come off harsh and blunt, but that doesn't mean I don't care."

Donovan looked at her, his intelligent gaze studying the profile of her face.

"Besides," she said, "Link has lived in the shadow of your good looks for so long he's forgotten that he's attractive in his own right."

She looked at him, smiled then shrugged.

"He just needed a push towards a girl who doesn't drool over you."

Donovan gave the faintest of chuckles. Carter held his gaze for a long moment before breaking away and watching Link laugh, knock something over and fumble about.

"He's lucky to have you as a friend then," Donovan said.

Carter laughed. "Well, that has got to be a first."

**********************************************************************

Oh deary me!!

I need help! Yup, you heard me right, I need help. Specifically your help. This is my fourth book and my brain is running out of author's notes. So! What can you do? You can ask me questions that you would want an author to answer: such as where does your inspirations come from? (Ask and I'll tell you!)

How many books do you plan on writing? (Again ask and I'll tell!)

What color would you dye your hair? (Pomegranate, duh!)

Anyways I could use your help! If you want to ask me whacky questions I will answer those as well! Come on! This is your chance! If you don't I'll be forced to give really boring author's notes! 😉

Any who! Ask, A, Question!